Real Estate, Buying a House

Real Estate; Buying a house

How does one go about buying a house?

What kind of downpayment do you need?

What are your loan options? (how many years and at what interest rate)?

Explain the various housing options that you can buy: single-family houses, condominiums, co-op's, duplexes, land, apartment buildings, etc.

What are the advantages and disadvantages to buying a house?

Why is a house (or apartment) a good investment? Historically, how much does real estate appreciate (go up) in time?

What about refinancing? Why do people refinance their home loans?

Also, do some research on buying vs. renting. At what point is it better to rent a house or apartment than to buy one.